Minnesota Isn’t America

Some congressional Republicans are taking heart from Minnesota’s recent budget showdown: Republicans in the state legislature rebuffed the Democratic governor’s request for tax increases, the state government closed, the public grew incensed, and eventually, the governor caved. He dropped his demand for tax hikes, and Republicans won the day. Now, the House GOP can do the same.

The argument is alluring — and false. Minnesota’s budget impasse caused nowhere near the pain a limited federal-government shutdown on the federal debt would.